Eagle Pass Cal Ripken Baseball Majors/70 All-Stars Defeat Crown Point, Indiana 2-1 in Final Pool B Game to Remain Undefeated (4-0) at Cal Ripken World Series, Advance to Bracket Play against West Raleigh, North Carolina
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2022
The mighty Eagle Pass Cal Ripken Baseball Majors/70 All-Stars, representing Southwest United States, defeated the Ohio Valley Regional Champions from Crown Point, Indiana 2-1 in a thrilling fourth Pool B game to remain undefeated (4-0) at the Cal Ripken Baseball Majors/70 World Series in Branson, Missouri on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, advancing to the Bracket Play against the West Raleigh, North Carolina All-Stars on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at 11:30 a.m.
The Eagle Pass Cal Ripken Baseball All-Stars summoned David Hernandez to hurl their fourth Pool B game against the potent Crown Point, Indiana All-Stars. Hernandez tossed five innings limiting Crown Point All-Stars to three hits while striking out nine batters and allowing three base on balls before being relieved in the bottom of the sixth inning with one runner on base and no outs by teammate Jay Jacquez.
The game was a pitcher’s duel between Eagle Pass’s David Hernandez and Crown Point’s Carson Payne as the pitchers dominated the first three innings without neither team scoring any runs.
Eagle Pass managed to put two hits together and take advantage of a Crown Point error to score two runs in the top of the fourth inning as Jay Jacquez ripped a line drive single to center field to lead off, Mathan Cruz legged out an infield single on a ground ball to second base advancing Jacquez, Renato De La Garza flied out to shortstop for the first out, Caleb Hernandez hit a hard ground ball to shortstop that was misplayed and a throwing error to first base allowed Jacquez and Cruz to cross home plate for Eagle Pass’ lone two runs in the game, Jose Sanchez got on base on a catcher’s interference call, but the next two batters struck out and grounded out to end the top half of the fourth inning, giving Eagle Pass a 2-0 lead.
Eagle Pass pitcher David Hernandez kept Crown Point off the scoreboard during the fourth and fifth innings with a command pitching performance, striking out nine batters.
In the bottom of the sixth inning with Eagle Pass leading 2-0 and Hernandez near his maximum pitch count of 85, Crown Point lead off hitter belted a single to center field, causing Eagle Pass team manager Robert De La Garza to call upon Jay Jacquez to the mound to relieve Hernandez. The second Crown Point batter hit a fielder’s choice ground ball to second forcing an out at second base, but the batter legged out the double play throw to first base to get on board. The base runner stole second base, the third batter struck out for the second out, the fourth batter received a base on balls, then Crown Point executed a delayed steal causing Eagle Pass to cut off the catcher’s throw to second base by the shortstop but the throw was late allowing one run to score and the base runner advanced to third base with the potential tying run with two outs. Eagle Pass pitcher Jay Jacquez buckled down on the fifth batter and with a two strikes and two balls count struck out the hitter swinging to seal the win for Eagle Pass. The game came down to the last batter and the tying run on third base with two outs, but Eagle Pass pulled out the win in a thrilling game.
Leading Eagle Pass offensively were Jay Jacquez with 1 for 3 at the plate with a single, one RBI, and scored one run and Mathan Cruz went 1 for 3 with an infield hit and scored one run. Eagle Pass had only two hits in the game. Jay Jacquez was named the Player of the Game.
With the win, Eagle Pass All-Stars won Pool B play with an unblemished record 4-0, advancing to the second round of Bracket Play against the West Raleigh, North Carolina All-Stars, who place second in Pool A with a 3-1 record. Eagle Pass will have a quick turnaround as they played the late game on August 9, but have to play again on Wednesday, August 10, against West Raleigh, North Carolina at 11:30 a.m.
The Eagle Pass Cal Ripken Baseball Majors/70 All-Stars include Renato De La Garza, Jay Jacquez, David Hernandez, Mathan Cruz, Caleb Hernandez, Jose Sanchez, Orly Chavarria, Sebastian Camarillo, Jaime Garcia, Hiram Mauricio, Robert Fernandez, and Izaiah Chavarria. Team Manager is Robert De La Garza and Assistant Coaches are Jose Sanchez, Orlando Chavarria, and Morris Libson, Jr.
This is the first time in history that an Eagle Pass Cal Ripken Baseball Majors/70 All-Stars team has qualified for and participated in the Cal Ripken Baseball Majors/70 World Series in Branson, Missouri.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal congratulates the Eagle Pass Cal Ripken Baseball All-Stars on sweeping Pool B play and wishes them all the best in the Cal Ripken Baseball World Series. Go Eagle Pass!
